We’ve had proper mirrors in Second Life for almost a year now, and I don’t think I’ve used them as much as I should. Turning on high-resolution mirrors can feel a bit intense, so I don’t always keep them enabled, but I like knowing the option is there.
I stumbled across the Meredith Wallpaper Arch from Apple Fall recently. The wallpaper prints are pretty hideous, but I bought it anyway to turn it into a giant wall mirror. Success! I love how it turned out. Mirrors could definitely make fashion blogging better since you can show outfits from different angles. Have you tried them yet?
I also stopped by Tres Chic because they said there’d be gifts, and I walked away with this cute Zella Corset Top from Little Fox. I’m also holding an adorable little gift, the Adventure Passport from Havoc.
Collaborations — everyone’s doing them. And honestly, it makes sense. In Second Life, brand collabs are a smart way to cross-promote and combine strengths to create something really solid.
I’ve always thought Maximillion Grant of LOGO fame was an incredible animator. Long before LeLutka mesh heads came onto the scene, there was LOGO, and I still think the Chloe head was one of the cutest to ever hit the grid. It had such expressive animations, and for that reason alone, it’s always had a special place in my heart.
So when I saw the Truth x LOGO collab, I was genuinely excited. It’s something different. Animesh hair isn’t something you see every day in SL, and it’s refreshing to see some innovation happening. Of course it makes sense for Truth to be part of that. It’s an OG brand teaming up with another OG. Both have been around for years and really know what they’re doing.
I feel like such a ‘70s doll in this Mood hair paired with the Striped Jumpsuit from Shifuku. I’ve always had a soft spot for updos, especially when they come with a few wispy bangs to soften the look. If you’re looking for something comfortable but cute to lounge in this holiday weekend, you can grab the jumpsuit at Anthology.
If you were hesitant to try the Aperture Viewer (by William Weaver) because it wasn’t listed in the official Third Party Viewer Directory, good news: it is now. Unless stated otherwise, most of my photos going forward will be taken using this viewer, mostly because it’s what I’m learning right now. I used the official Second Life Viewer up until 2020, when I finally decided to dip my toes into third party viewers. Since then, I’ve tried Black Dragon, Firestorm, Alchemy, and beta versions of these viewers. I’m comfortable with all of them, but I’m also a sucker for shiny new sliders. I like when a viewer can push the limits of what’s possible in Second Life without needing external photo editing apps.
That said, it really doesn’t matter what viewer you use to take photos in Second Life. At the end of the day, it’s the artist, not the tool. And honestly, I don’t even consider myself an art photographer. I’m just a fashion blogger. I shoot fast and move on.
For this look, I used the built-in poser to part my lips and add a side glance. You can always use a face poser HUD, but if you don’t have one, the built-in poser actually gives you super fine control. You can tweak all the sliders to get as expressive as you want. Yes, it’s a little time-consuming, but those small details can really bring your photos to life.
Also, Anthology is open. And for the first time ever, I made an alpha in Second Life. It was messy, but I did it in under 30 minutes, and I’m totally inexperienced. I’m wearing the Nida Sweater from Havoc. It’s made for Maitreya, but I wanted to wear it with the Maitreya LaraX body, so I had to make an alpha to cut out bits of the breasts and back. I love this top too much to switch back to regular Maitreya, so I went the hard route. If you want the alpha, just message me in SL.
And finally, can we talk about this Derpy Doge Plush from Sakura? I love holdables in Second Life, and this one is just too cute. The little tongue sticking out reminds me of my real life derpy dog. Instant favorite.
This White Sands backdrop from Synnery Tavis is to die for. It looks like a forgotten mansion on the beach, with sand spilling in from the outside like time is slowly reclaiming it. The chandelier is a really nice touch. For L$75, it’s totally worth it just to have a cute little spot to stand around in. It even comes with a sky dome. I guess if you wanted to decorate it and use it as a skybox, you probably could?
Truth Hair now has three designers, working together as the Truth Collective. Each one has a distinct style and way of making hair. For example, the style I’m wearing right now is called Posession from Truth, but it’s made by fagahair. Faga’s styles tend to be flatter and kind of crunchy looking. I don’t mind that though. I think the waves in this one are lovely. That said, the sparse hairline on this style needed a little help, so I added a hairbase underneath. Once I put on the hairbase from Tableau Vivant, I was really happy with it. My friend asked if this was AI hair, and nope, it’s not! It actually looks this good in-world.
I was in the mood for a cute, wedding-worthy photo spot, so I opened the Destination Guide and landed at Love Valley Equestrian. Have you noticed how equestrian locations always give off that luxe, romantic vibe? They’re honestly the perfect backdrop for dreamy photos. This place was gorgeous. I ended up standing in the stable just because I liked the aesthetic, though you’d never guess it since the horses were all on the other side.
I’m wearing the new Esmeralda hairstyle from Mina Hair, and wow I’m seriously impressed. The texture is beautiful and I feel like I’ve totally been sleeping on Mina Hair. This style is made for a headband moment, so I added the Emily Pearl Headband from Sparkle Skye. It pulls everything together so nicely.
And if you’re on the hunt for a sexy dress that isn’t too revealing, the Phoenix Dress from Tetra is such a gem. It was recently on sale, so of course I grabbed it in every color.
I guess I’m just in a soft, posh mood and hey it is wedding season in Second Life. Someone invite me to a wedding already. I’ll totally show up!
What I’m Wearing: Mina Hair – Esmeralda Sparkle Skye – Emily Pearl Headband Tetra – Phoenix Dress Tentacio – Neon Vibes Bouquet Glam Affair – Felt (L005) LeLutka – Billie Mesh Head
How did I even wear skins before tattoo layers? One of the perks of being friends with Izzie is that I can suggest ideas for tattoo fixes or simply ask her to fix something on the skin, and she always does it amazingly well. While I jokingly call her Dr. Izzie, she has certainly earned that nickname for her remarkable ability to improve faces in Second Life.
I really like this Felt skin from Glam Affair. To me, the complexion is one of the best I have seen this year. I like everything about it, except for the lips, which appear uneven and are shaded more heavily on one side. Thus, I asked Izzie to take a look and work her magic. As always, after layering on a collection of Izzie’s tattoo layers, I began to feel the skin is more like Gogo. Currently, I am wearing Izzie’s Eye Fix, along with a custom Upper & Lower Lip Shadow Concealer, Nostril Lightener, Blush/Contour Remover, and Chin Shadow Concealer.
I think Glam Affair is delivering some of the most stunning 2k BoM skins available right now, many of them can be worn as they are. However, I genuinely enjoy customizing with BoM tattoo layers to suit my personal preferences, and I’m sure lots of Second Life residents feel the same way. Let me know in the comments what your “must-haves” are when it comes to tattoo fixes!
That’s right. Those first Linden Homes from way back in the day (we’re talking over 15 years ago) are slowly being phased out. If you or someone you know are still living in one, you might not have even noticed the quiet little notices Second Life has posted about their closure. But when the regions eventually disappear, it’s sure to come as a surprise to anyone still hanging on.
To be honest, it’s time. These homes have had a good run, but it’s time to retire them. I fully support this transition because Second Life has given plenty of notice over the years. The first big clue came in 2019 with the launch of Bellisseria, the new generation of Linden Homes. They’ve now been around for six years, offering more prims, better designs, and a livelier community.
While there’s no official shutdown date yet, I personally think closing the old regions within the next 30 days would be fair. Resources are limited, and it doesn’t make sense to keep supporting outdated areas for just a few remaining residents. Thankfully, there are great alternatives such as Bellisseria, mainland parcels, or even choosing to go land-free.
I still remember when the original Linden Homes launched. Honestly, I wasn’t all that impressed even then. They served their purpose, but their time has passed. Their quiet farewell feels right.
So, do you live in an old Linden Home or know someone who does? Let me know in the comments!
I’m a bit of a body skin collector and often change them depending on what suits my face skin. For years, I wore Pink Fuel body skins; they were my favorite because the shading was not heavy, and the texture was smooth with few imperfections. Even though I have several body skins that I’m happy with (including many tattoo fixes from Izzie’s), I jumped at the chance to try the free Next Level body skins from LAQ. If you use Maitreya, Legacy, Reborn, Belleza, Slink, or Omega (appliers), you’ll be able to wear these body skins. I am currently wearing it on the Maitreya LaraX body, and it’s just as good, if not better, than any body skins currently available from other brands.
I paired the LAQ 1.5 tone with my Glam Affair L005 face skin, but wanted it to be a touch lighter to match better. To fix this, I created body tint tattoos and listed them on Marketplace for L$10. If you want an exact match, like I do, be sure to check these out. You can easily tint the tattoo layers to match any face skin you’re wearing.
Recently, I found myself longing for a smooth body skin without highlights or shadows; I was tired of using dozens of body skin fixes to achieve the desired look. So, I am overwhelmingly impressed by this body skin. Mallory Cowen, the creator of LAQ, is a pioneer when it comes to texture skins in Second Life. She was among the first brands to create realistic skins with beautifully designed signature LAQ faces. I wore them for many years and think it’s nice to incorporate a bit of LAQ into my current look. I have also been asking Mallory to create some EvoX head skins, which I am know will be a success.
The generosity of some Second Life brands blows me away. Teleport to LAQ to get your hands on these free body skins.
Now that nearly everyone is creating 2k BoM skins, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in quality. I immediately fell in love with the Yenna skin from Amara Beauty that I recently tried on. I was a huge fan of this brand until they began introducing shaded noses and freckles that I found impossible to remove. However, this Yenna skin is smooth and incredibly beautiful. I would actually wear it without any tattoo fixes; the brows are a tad bushy, but since I prefer neater brows, I chose to wear the no-brows version and added my own adjustments.
I filmed a short video clip to demonstrate how the skin looks without tattoos and gradually transforms as I apply some of Izzie’s skin fixes on top. My favorites for this skin include the Blush/Contour Remover, Eye Fix, and an additional Chin Highlight.
For this look, I’m wearing the Ethereal Essence Body Skin (Slim), which blended quite well with the Velour head skin tone. I am still hopeful for a less shiny update for this body skin, or at least having the body shine on a separate tattoo layer because we don’t always want to be that shiny.
The Avatar Welcome Pack is now available in the library and is free for all residents. To use it, copy the entire pack from the library into your inventory. I decided to challenge myself by dressing from head to toe in free items. Additionally, SeraPlus, the newly released gift pack from Seraphim, is also available. However, this gift pack is for paid residents only, meaning you need to be a Plus, Premium, or Premium Plus member to access it. I chose to mix and match items from both of these packs to create my version of Gogo Lite. Given the limitations of this mesh head and body, I think I did fairly well.
Almost immediately, I noticed that because I was using the lite Avalon head, I lack a HUD to control various features – can’t change lashes, expressions, HD makeups, etc. Furthermore, some of the shape sliders for facial adjustments are disabled. While I could edit about 90% of the features, one slider I really wanted to use, the chin depth slider, was unfortunately unavailable.
UPDATE: You can edit the chin slider and all of the sliders if you wear ANY BODY that is not Legacy Lite. I was able to edit the Avalon Lite head when I’m wearing the Maitreya LaraX body.
This is my first time wearing Legacy, so I can’t provide an informed opinion about it. Since it was free, I took the opportunity. However, I spent quite some time searching for a long sleeve alpha to cover my elbows, which were poking through the top; this was not included in Riot’s package. I assume the SeraPlus gift is aimed at residents with the full Legacy body, but if you search for it, you can likely find a free alpha to hide the arms. I also added a random shorts alpha to maintain modesty, as there were instances where private areas peeked through in various poses.
As for the Avatar Welcome Pack, while they stated that HUDs were omitted to simplify things for new residents, I believe HUDs are crucial for learning. It would have been beneficial to include at least some HUDs or controls. Though I find the free body and head adequate, the inability to hide certain body parts is a significant limitation. To top it off, I noticed I don’t have any fingernails, and the nails on the body skin I’m wearing is a hot mess on the Legacy lite body.
Overall, whether you’re a new resident or an experienced player looking spruce up your avatar, the Avatar Welcome Pack provides lots of items to get you started. If you prefer not to spend any money at all, I recommend checking out FabFree for all the latest freebie offerings.
